Monday, September 26, 2011
Bookshare
Bookshare http://www.bookshare.org is a website that has accessible books, textbooks, periodicals, etc. for students with print disabilities. As an educational institution we have access to all of their books online. They can be downloaded to a computer and most will go onto an iPad or iPod Touch. The daisy reader will read the books out loud or books can be read on the screen. Print can be enlarged, highlighted, etc. If you are using these books on an iPod Touch or an iPad you will need to buy an app for $19.99 called Read2Go from the iTunes app store. I downloaded the app on a student-specific iPad for a child in Steve Moses class (Excelsior) for a student who is visually impaired.
Someone from each of your buildings could apply for an institutional membership. Though memberships are usually paid the federal government has provided money to allow schools to have free access to books.
Jackie Wellborn
Someone from each of your buildings could apply for an institutional membership. Though memberships are usually paid the federal government has provided money to allow schools to have free access to books.
Jackie Wellborn
Monday, May 9, 2011
Thank you for a great school year...and..what's happening for Fall?
Hello!
Thanks for attending our brief meeting this morning in the Upper Commons at the high school. A big THANK YOU to Melissa Bray, Joslin Hanna, Jennifer Porter, and Ivan Gentry in sharing their use of technology to help enhance home/school communications. Also, thanks to the high school for hosting and Ivan for setting up the hardware goods!
Also..congratulations to Jennifer Porter on her Newcomer award, Cathy Harris and Jean Monroe for their upcoming retirements. We wish them all the best!
Finally, as shared this morning middle school and high school teachers will have an opportunity to get ahead of the game for our next round of IEP compliance activities...and receive a stipend as well! Please see information below:
As you may know, Linn-Mar is up for a compliance review again next year. To prepare for this we have been given an opportunity to spend a day with our Transition Consultant, Mary Crandall, to work on the following:
6 Critical Elements
Go over data from an informal review of our current IEPS
Spend time working on your IEPS
An added benefit will be that all teachers will be paid a stipend of $150.00 for the day.
We hope that you will take advantage of this training.
Time: Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Place: LRC Rooms 304 & 305
Time: 8:30-3:30 with 1 hour for lunch
Please bring your laptops so you can access your IEPS.
I look forward to seeing you all back here at Linn Mar this coming Fall...watch for some exciting new websites and use of technology within Student Services land. As always feel free to contact me with any questions/concerns that may arise in these last few weeks of school or even over the summer. I will be in the office the majority of the summer days.
Take Care,
Julie
Thanks for attending our brief meeting this morning in the Upper Commons at the high school. A big THANK YOU to Melissa Bray, Joslin Hanna, Jennifer Porter, and Ivan Gentry in sharing their use of technology to help enhance home/school communications. Also, thanks to the high school for hosting and Ivan for setting up the hardware goods!
Also..congratulations to Jennifer Porter on her Newcomer award, Cathy Harris and Jean Monroe for their upcoming retirements. We wish them all the best!
Finally, as shared this morning middle school and high school teachers will have an opportunity to get ahead of the game for our next round of IEP compliance activities...and receive a stipend as well! Please see information below:
As you may know, Linn-Mar is up for a compliance review again next year. To prepare for this we have been given an opportunity to spend a day with our Transition Consultant, Mary Crandall, to work on the following:
6 Critical Elements
Go over data from an informal review of our current IEPS
Spend time working on your IEPS
An added benefit will be that all teachers will be paid a stipend of $150.00 for the day.
We hope that you will take advantage of this training.
Time: Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Place: LRC Rooms 304 & 305
Time: 8:30-3:30 with 1 hour for lunch
Please bring your laptops so you can access your IEPS.
I look forward to seeing you all back here at Linn Mar this coming Fall...watch for some exciting new websites and use of technology within Student Services land. As always feel free to contact me with any questions/concerns that may arise in these last few weeks of school or even over the summer. I will be in the office the majority of the summer days.
Take Care,
Julie
Monday, April 25, 2011
Technology and May 9th plans
Good Morning!
While I am updating this blog, I believe a lot of you are attending technology classes around the district. What an exciting opportunity to share the wealth and knowledge of technology tools! As Student Support teachers, you will have another opportunity to see some great examples of technology tools used for home/school communication. Several of our staff have shared tools with the parent advisory group. Now it's time for all of us to see them....that's a little preview of what is to come on May 9th!:-)
As we are close to the last month of school a big kudos goes out to all of you....I believe transition plans for students moving to other buildings/programs have all been completed....extended school year meetings have all been completed....and almost all IEPs are up to date. Whew! As always, thank you for your professionalism in completing the work and support for our students and families!!
Finally, here is a friendly reminder to any of you serving out of district students on your class roster...please make sure the IEP goals are up to date with progress monitoring data. As you may know, Karen Wilson sends those out quarterly to receiving districts and she really feels bad when she has to call someone during the summer time! (By the way...what an awesome Administrative Assistant we have in Student Services...this coming Wednesday is a day to say a little "thank you"!)
I look forward to seeing you all out in the buildings and for sure May 9th for our final professional development day!
Have a great Monday!
Julie
While I am updating this blog, I believe a lot of you are attending technology classes around the district. What an exciting opportunity to share the wealth and knowledge of technology tools! As Student Support teachers, you will have another opportunity to see some great examples of technology tools used for home/school communication. Several of our staff have shared tools with the parent advisory group. Now it's time for all of us to see them....that's a little preview of what is to come on May 9th!:-)
As we are close to the last month of school a big kudos goes out to all of you....I believe transition plans for students moving to other buildings/programs have all been completed....extended school year meetings have all been completed....and almost all IEPs are up to date. Whew! As always, thank you for your professionalism in completing the work and support for our students and families!!
Finally, here is a friendly reminder to any of you serving out of district students on your class roster...please make sure the IEP goals are up to date with progress monitoring data. As you may know, Karen Wilson sends those out quarterly to receiving districts and she really feels bad when she has to call someone during the summer time! (By the way...what an awesome Administrative Assistant we have in Student Services...this coming Wednesday is a day to say a little "thank you"!)
I look forward to seeing you all out in the buildings and for sure May 9th for our final professional development day!
Have a great Monday!
Julie
Friday, March 25, 2011
Welcome Spring!
Hello!
It's the time of year that I find myself saying more often than not..."I can't believe we are at the end of March and thinking about next school year already!" With those thoughts come many items to share:
-Transition plans for students going to new buildings....thank you for taking the time to make sure receiving teachers have the necessary information and that families have visited the buildings to help relieve apprehensions! We all know that we like to know our plans for the future sooner than later..that goes for our students and families as well. If anyone is unsure what program a student may be transitioning to please feel free to contact your AEA staff in the building or myself. Thank you!
-Purchase orders need to be wrapped up for this school year. There has been a lot of good technology devices that have been purchased this year. We know that the district pilot with I-Pads has provided a great opportunity to get more technology in the hands of the students. For next Fall, if any technology equipment is requested there will be a form to complete how the device will enable to be used for direct instruction with students. We know the best practice for technology is for it to enhance and elevate the instruction provided to students. I-pads will be approved for purchasing in Student Services starting next Fall...however they will be purchased through classroom budgets. A friendly reminder that one I-Pad is about equal to two I-Pods.
-There are exciting things happening in our Parent Advisory group. A big thank you to Kelly Von Lehmenden, Ann Loftus, and Kristin Hatfield for organizing and facilitating this group! We have had some good information shared on home/school communication tools and initiating some social activities for students with disabilities and general education peers. It's great to see all of us working together in the best interest of students!
-As always, please feel free to post comments on this blog...it's a great tool to keep information flowing across all 10 of our buildings. Have an awesome Spring!
Julie
It's the time of year that I find myself saying more often than not..."I can't believe we are at the end of March and thinking about next school year already!" With those thoughts come many items to share:
-Transition plans for students going to new buildings....thank you for taking the time to make sure receiving teachers have the necessary information and that families have visited the buildings to help relieve apprehensions! We all know that we like to know our plans for the future sooner than later..that goes for our students and families as well. If anyone is unsure what program a student may be transitioning to please feel free to contact your AEA staff in the building or myself. Thank you!
-Purchase orders need to be wrapped up for this school year. There has been a lot of good technology devices that have been purchased this year. We know that the district pilot with I-Pads has provided a great opportunity to get more technology in the hands of the students. For next Fall, if any technology equipment is requested there will be a form to complete how the device will enable to be used for direct instruction with students. We know the best practice for technology is for it to enhance and elevate the instruction provided to students. I-pads will be approved for purchasing in Student Services starting next Fall...however they will be purchased through classroom budgets. A friendly reminder that one I-Pad is about equal to two I-Pods.
-There are exciting things happening in our Parent Advisory group. A big thank you to Kelly Von Lehmenden, Ann Loftus, and Kristin Hatfield for organizing and facilitating this group! We have had some good information shared on home/school communication tools and initiating some social activities for students with disabilities and general education peers. It's great to see all of us working together in the best interest of students!
-As always, please feel free to post comments on this blog...it's a great tool to keep information flowing across all 10 of our buildings. Have an awesome Spring!
Julie
Monday, February 7, 2011
Request for samples of communication ideas...
Hi, I have gotten several ideas on how student support and general education teachers communicate with one another and with parents. One of my favorites is the use of the IPOD! I was hoping for a few more ideas to share with the Parent Advisory Board.
I have some board maker ideas from various teachers also that are kid friendly and parent friendly.
E-mail or send me some samples or ideas.
Ann Loftus
aloftus@linnmar.12.ia.us
I have some board maker ideas from various teachers also that are kid friendly and parent friendly.
E-mail or send me some samples or ideas.
Ann Loftus
aloftus@linnmar.12.ia.us
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Medicaid Kudos and What is the right wording?
Hello All!
It's a snowy day out there and I always appreciate the time to catch up on my "to do list"! Here are a couple interesting items that have come to my desk this past week:
1.) Medicaid reimbursement. Please pass on to all the designated adult associates, bus drivers, nurses and other staff the excellent work they have all done in completing medicaid forms this past year. We have received over 1.4 million dollars in medicaid reimbursement. You might think we are "rolling in the dough!" However, with only 40% of special education costs covered by Federal dollars, we are actually still in the red with a deficit around $400,00. Just think what we would be doing without the Medicaid reimbursement! Whew!
2.) In conversations concerning testing accommodations on IEPs and 504s, it has come to our attention that our wording for testing accommodations may not be consistent. Let's try to see if we can get more consistent across the district....please use the terms "extended time" rather than "untimed tests". The extended time guideline that ACT, SAT, and other testing centers use is 1 1/2 times the recommended time limit. This would be a good amount of time to try to follow for all testing accommodations at any grade level.
If you have any thoughts or comments concerning either of these items please feel free to share...
Stay safe and warm!
Julie
It's a snowy day out there and I always appreciate the time to catch up on my "to do list"! Here are a couple interesting items that have come to my desk this past week:
1.) Medicaid reimbursement. Please pass on to all the designated adult associates, bus drivers, nurses and other staff the excellent work they have all done in completing medicaid forms this past year. We have received over 1.4 million dollars in medicaid reimbursement. You might think we are "rolling in the dough!" However, with only 40% of special education costs covered by Federal dollars, we are actually still in the red with a deficit around $400,00. Just think what we would be doing without the Medicaid reimbursement! Whew!
2.) In conversations concerning testing accommodations on IEPs and 504s, it has come to our attention that our wording for testing accommodations may not be consistent. Let's try to see if we can get more consistent across the district....please use the terms "extended time" rather than "untimed tests". The extended time guideline that ACT, SAT, and other testing centers use is 1 1/2 times the recommended time limit. This would be a good amount of time to try to follow for all testing accommodations at any grade level.
If you have any thoughts or comments concerning either of these items please feel free to share...
Stay safe and warm!
Julie
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